The Canadian Press
HAMILTON — Off the field, he’s a humble 28-year-old from a small town in Georgia, but as soon as he puts on his helmet and his cleats hit the gridiron, he’ll bite the opposition as hard as a Tiger-Cat can.
And what makes Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ middle linebacker Larry Dean so integral to the core of the Black and Gold’s defence is his consistency.
Named a Shaw CFL Top Performer of the Week for Week 13, Dean regularly roams around the field, making key plays to shut down his opponents and help his own team’s offence along the way.
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Larry Dean celebrates a sack with teammate Courtney Stephen (CFL.ca)
Two week ago, in the Tiger-Cats’ loss to the Toronto Argonauts, the Tifton, GA. native intercepted a Dan LeFevour errant pass and returned it to the Argos’ 10 yard line. A few plays later, Jeremiah Masoli plunged into the end zone for a major score.
Last week, Dean was key to his club’s comeback win against the Alouettes. He matched his career-high in tackles with eight, while adding a sack and forcing two fumbles. Both forced fumbles were recovered by teammate Emanuel Davis – who was also recognized as a Shaw CFL Top Performer in Week 13.
“It’s just a blessing,” Dean said when asked about receiving the Top Performer nod. “I’ve been working hard and I try to put my best foot forward with every opportunity that I get. With this group of guys, I feel like we all could get it. For me to be singled out, that’s special to me.”
The Valdosta State product is suiting up in his first year in the CFL, after beating out highly touted Alex Hoffman-Ellis for the job during training camp.
Dean played four seasons with Valdosta (2007-10), leaving the university holding the school’s record in career tackles with 368, and helped to lead Valdosta to a Division II National Title in 2007. He then signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings where he played three seasons (2011-13) before being released by the club in 2014 and headed to Buffalo to join the Bills.
After signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early in 2015, and not playing a game, he was released by the club that fall.
“They’ve been together for four years and to be the guy that comes in, you definitely want to step up and fill the shoes of the others.”
Larry Dean
It was in April of 2016 that Dean decided to make the jump across the border to the Canadian game and signed as a free agent with the Tiger-Cats.
“After careful consideration, me and my agents felt like this was the best move,” Dean recalls. “I just prayed about it and talked with my family about it and we all felt like this was the best opportunity when it presented itself and (now) I’m here taking advantage of it.”
And that he is.
Dean is second on the club in defensive tackles with 58, has two quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Three quarters of the way though his first year in the Hammer, it seems the six-foot, 226-pounder is fitting in nicely with Defensive Coordinator Orlondo Steinauer’s defence.
“Coach O is a great guy and a great coach,” Dean says of Steinauer. “He’s an instructor and he makes it easy for players to relate to the defence. Especially when you have guys like Simoni (Lawrence), John Chick, Adrian Tracy, everyone. I don’t want to centre out just one guy, but everyone on the defence is welcoming.
“Everyone has high expectations. They’ve been together for four years and to be the guy that comes in, you definitely want to step up and fill the shoes of the others.”
Coming into a new city, with a new team, in a new league, can be tough for any athlete to go through, but luckily for Dean, he had a familiar face to help with his transition.
Linebacker Simoni Lawrence and Dean met during the Vikings training camp, just before both were released by the team in 2014.
“We met actually when he came down from the CFL to the Vikings,” Dean remembers. “We went through OTA’s together, so we spent a little time together. We actually played during preseason together. So, I kind of knew him and I knew his name was ringing up here (in the CFL) so when I came he had his arms out and we just linked back up.”
While the game of football is an important part of Dean’s life, giving back to his community is as well.
Dean founded the Larry Dean Foundation that focuses on youth development in his old stomping grounds. Scattered around Tifton are signs with Dean’s name on it – a reminder to kids of what can be accomplished with dedication and hard work.
“Seeing is believing with the younger kids,” said Dean. “So any time they can ride by and see ‘Tifton County: Hometown of Larry Dean, NFL/CFL Professional Player,’ that’s going to give them hope, keep them encouraged and keep them uplifted.
“It’s definitely big to me (to see the signs) and I appreciate it a lot from my city to be doing that.”
